The way in which you house your guinea pig can have a big effect on their quality of life. Housing your guinea pig correctly will ensure they live happily and healthily — which is all a guinea pig owner wants, right?!
Take a look at our tips below for creating a safe and comfortable place for your guinea pig to reside.
Should I Keep My Guinea Pigs Indoors Or Outdoors?
Guinea pigs can live indoors or outdoors and there are pros and cons to both.
Some owners like to keep their piggies indoors because they are closer to them, which allows you to interact with them more and your guinea will likely become more confident around you. You’ll also have a better chance of spotting any health problems, and they’re at less risk from predators. Guinea pigs are very susceptible to changes in the weather, too, so keeping them indoors can ensure they are kept warm and dry.
However, when housed outside, guinea pigs can have access to more space and will be able to graze on grass when they like. They’re also away from any other house pets you might have, such as cats and dogs, that might take an interest in your guinea and cause them to become stressed. If your guinea is housed outside, they can become acclimatized to the weather, too.
You should note that guinea pigs housed indoors don’t live any longer than outdoor guinea pigs. You can also move your outside guinea inside during the winter months, until the weather is warmer. If you do move your pigs inside, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t move then back outside until the temperature outdoors is similar to that indoors, otherwise they can struggle to adjust.
Ultimately, as a guinea pig owner, one of your most important jobs is making sure they have enough space to live in and are not too hot in the summer months, or too cold in the winter months. If you do this, your guinea will be happy no matter where they are living!
What You Will Need To House Your Guinea Pig
There are a few different things you will need to ensure your guinea pigs can live a happy life. Take a look below at the necessities for housing your guinea pig.
Cage or Hutch
Despite their small size, guinea pigs need a lot of room to live. They need plenty of space to move around and exercise, especially so they don’t become overweight or bored. The larger their space to live, the less likely your guinea pigs are to fight or get annoyed with each other, too.
Inside your guinea pig will live in a cage. Outside, they will live in a hutch. Whether in a cage or a hutch, this living area should be at least 1.5m x 1m big for two guinea pigs, if not bigger. The more guineas you have, the larger their living space should be. There should also a be a large run attached, which we go into detail about below.
Their cage or hutch should single-level. Double-level hutches and cages are not ideal for guinea pigs, as the ramps in these type of hutches can be steep, which they can find difficult to use. Ramps can also cause injury in older and less mobile guinea pigs.
If housing your guinea pigs indoors, be careful of where you place their cage. Guineas can be easily scared by loud noises, so avoid busy areas such as the living room, kitchen or playroom. Also ensure you don’t place the cage close to any draughts, in direct sunlight, or close to any radiators. Be mindful of house plants and electric cables, too — guineas love to chew!
When housing outdoors, ensure that the hutch is weatherproof and raised off the ground. Because guinea pigs are very close to the ground, they can become cold and wet easily. In cold and wet weather, ensure that the hutch has a cover so your guineas are kept nice and warm.
You should also ensure an outdoor hutch is predator proof, with lots of bolts on any doors. It is important to note that chicken wire is not a suitable material for a guinea pig hutch, as it can be easily broken by predators.
The lining of your cage or hutch should be a safe and comfortable material, such as wood shavings or sawdust. You should make sure this is dust-free. Make sure the floor is non-slip, as a slippery floor can cause stress and injury to your guinea pig.
Large Exercise Area
Whether inside or outside, your guinea pig’s hutch or cage should be permanently attached to a larger space which they have constant access to, day or night. This large exercise area should be at least 2m x 1m, but even bigger is better. Guinea pigs need a lot of room to move around and exercise, just like they would in the wild.
If outside, this large exercise area should be placed on grass. You’ll need to move their hutch and exercise area frequently, especially if they have eaten the grass and the area is becoming muddy. You should never place the exercise area on hard surfaces like concrete, as this can give the guineas sores on their paws. Inside, the exercise area should be on a non-slip, not carpeted, easy to clean surface.
There should be plenty of tunnels and hideouts inside the exercise area, along with any toys you choose for your guineas.
If you keep your guinea pig indoors in a cage but have space in the garden, we recommend providing them with a garden run to use when you are home and can supervise them.
Bedding
Just like you and me, your guinea pig likes a nice, comfy bed to sleep in at night! Guinea pig bedding should be clean, dry hay, straw or shredded paper. Double check that this bedding is non-toxic and dust-free, so your pig doesn’t develop any health issues from it.
You can use a fleece blanket or fleece liner to line the bottom of your guinea pig’s home. This not only keeps them warm and protects their feet, but can make cleaning up after them a bit easier.
In winter, you should also give them extra bedding to ensure warmth. It is important that you replace any wet and soiled bedding daily to prevent any problems.
Tunnels And Hideouts
Your guinea pig will needs lots of tunnels and hiding areas. As mentioned above, these animals can become scared very easily, and will feel much happier and safer if they have somewhere to go. They also like to eat and graze when hidden away, as they will feel less likely they are going to be caught by predators.
Tunnels and hideouts are a great way to keep your guinea cool in the summer months too, as they provide them with shady places to hide.
Toys
Just like other small pets, if your piggy isn’t kept entertained or doesn’t have anything to play with, they can become bored. Over time, this boredom can lead to depression within your pet, particularly if they are spending a lot of time alone.
Toys can be a great way to keep your guinea pig mentally stimulated and engaged. They’ll also keep your guinea pig active, which is important for their overall wellbeing and health.
There are lots of different types of toys out here for your guinea. Take a look at our article on guinea pig toys to see which ones will be best for your pet.
Food, Hay And Water
To live a healthy and happy life, your guinea pig should always have access to fresh hay and water. Hay makes up the bulk of your guinea pig’s diet, because it has many health benefits. Not only does it help to grind down their teeth so they don’t overgrow and become painful, but it also helps to maintain their gut health.
You should also feed them fresh vegetables and pellet food, but these should be given in moderation. Check out our article on feeding your guinea pig to know what type of food you should give them, and how often.
Can I Free Roam My Guinea Pig?
Some small animals, such as rabbits, can be free roamed in a house. This means they either have a room to themselves, or can freely move between rooms in the house. But can you free roam a guinea pig?
The answer is yes! As piggies are very small pets, we do not recommend you letting them having access to your whole house. Not only would this take a lot of guinea pig proofing, but you might lose them inside or behind furniture.
Instead, if free roaming is a route you want to go down, we suggest dedicating a room to your guinea pigs. You will need to ensure that you make this space safe for your pet. Our article on guinea proofing a room can help you to do this.
You could also choose to dedicate another space to your guinea pigs, such as a garage, Wendy house, or shed. Again, you’ll need to guinea proof this and make sure the space is warm and weatherproof.
Do I Need More Than One Guinea Pig?
The short answer this is — yes, we recommend it. Guinea pigs are sociable animals that like to be kept in pairs or small groups. In the wild, they live together in small herds, so it can seem a bit unfair to keep a pet guinea on their own.
Having two or more guinea pigs will prevent them from feeling lonely and bored, as they’ll keep each other entertained and happy.
However, introducing guinea pigs should be a careful process to prevent any fighting or territorial behavior. Read about how to bond your guinea pigs.
How Often Should I Clean Out My Guinea Pig?
While guinea pigs are small, they do require a lot of care — and this includes cleaning them out daily!
Your piggies won’t need a full revamp of their home every day, but you should throw out any wet or dirty bedding and old food, and replenish these things on a daily basis.
On a weekly basis, you should also clean their litter trays and give their hutch a good tidy by removing and replacing all the bedding.
Monthly, give your guinea pig hutch a deep clean. This will involve taking everything out of the hutch, scrubbing it down with safe, non-hazardous cleaning products, and then replenishing all the bedding, hay and litter trays.
For full details on cleaning out your guinea pig, you can read our guide here.
